Transfers

Overview of Transfers

Timeline for Processing Transfers

@ Time and Date of 3* record preferences capture from FOS	Effective Date
@0830 CT on 26Oct25	01Jan26 - Jan
@0830 CT on 26Nov25	31Jan26 - Feb
@0830 CT on 26Dec25	02Mar26 - Mar
@0830 CT on 26Jan26	01Apr26 - Apr
@0830 CT on 26Feb26	02May26 - May
@0830 CT on 26Mar26	02Jun26 - Jun
@0830 CT on 26Apr26	02Jul26 - Jul
@0830 CT on 26May26	01Aug26 - Aug
@0830 CT on 26Jun26	31Aug26 - Sep
@0830 CT on 26Jul26	01Oct26 - Oct
@0830 CT on 26Aug26	01Nov26 - Nov
@0830 CT on 26Sep26	02Dec26 - Dec
@0830 CT on 26Oct26	01Jan27 - Jan'27

Timeline for Capture of Transfer Preferences from FOS

Bid Closing: 26th of the month @ 1200 CT, three months prior to the effective date.

Bid Awards:

VACANCY TRANSFERS: 27th of the month @ 1200 CT, three months prior to the effective date.

MUTUAL TRANSFERS: 28th of the month @ 1200 CT, three months prior to the effective date.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Bids close on August 26th at 1200 CT.
Mutual Transfer Bid awarded on August 28th at 1200 CT.
Transfer is effective on November 1st.

Putting in Your Transfer Request

Once you are in Personal Mode in DECS, enter these codes from the chart below. Base transfer preferences can be updated at any time throughout the month and remain active until removed or until a transfer is awarded.

NOTE: For more information on Personal Mode and entering your transfer preferences in DECS you can view the Guide to Entering Transfer Preferences on Jetnet.

Base Transfer Preference	FOS/DECS code to enter	Description
View Your Base Transfer Preferences	3*	This entry will show you your current and next base, as well as your base preferences, buddy transfers and language qualifications.
Add a Base Transfer Preference	3C/T/BASE-D	This entry updates your base transfer preferences, Both for a voluntary transfer to fill vacancies and a mutual transfer to trade bases with another flight attendant. The base transfer requests will be considered for whichever transfer is being processed at the time of capture. Voluntary transfers take precedence - just make sure to always type the 3 letter base code followed by -D, and separate each entry with /. i.e. 3C/T/DFW-D
Remove Base Transfer Preference	3C/T/CANCEL 1 or 3C/T/CANCEL 1 to 9	These entries allow you to cancel a single preference, or a range of preferences. Make sure to type the spaces as shown.
Move Base Transfer Preferences	3C/T/MOVE X TO Y	This entry allows you to change the order of your base preferences without having to delete them and start over. For example, if you decide to move the base that is third on your preference list to first on the list, simply type 3C/T/MOVE 3 to 1. Be sure to type the spaces between the numbers as shown.
Input/Delete Buddy Transfers entry	3C/T/BBID/EMP NBR	This entry allows you to buddy transfer with up to 4 other flight attendants. To enter more than one buddy transfer, type each employee number separated by a slash. To change your buddy transfers, type the entry again with the new employee numbers. To delete your buddy, type 3C/T/BBID and enter.

Transfer Types

Two Transfer Types:

Vacancy Transfers or

Mutual Transfers

There is only one transfer list. Vacancies are processed first followed by mutuals.

Equipment Qualifications

For a Vacancy Transfer you must successfully complete the required qualification training by the effective date of your transfer. For Mutual Transfers you must have required qualifications at the time the award is processed.

Qualification	BOS	CLT	DCA	DFW	LAX	LGA	MIA	ORD	PHL	PHX
787, 777, 737, Airbus(A319/320/321/321NX)	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL	ALL
IFS	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE	IPE
AIFS				TFS	TFS	TFS

Additional Information

Transfer Effect on Reserve

Transfer Rescind - Decline

A transfer request, once awarded, cannot be declined, including for a change to inactive status. Therefore, a Flight Attendant who desires to transfer to a different base should monitor and update their standing preference list to the base(s) to which they desire to transfer on a frequent basis.

A Flight Attendant may remove their name from the transfer list at any time prior to the 26th at 1200 DFW Time.

Back Filling

Priority of Return

What is a Priority of Return?

Priority of Return (POR) allows a displaced flight attendant the option of returning to their original base ahead of a non-displaced flight attendant. Flight Attendants holding Priority of Return will be awarded a vacancy transfer in seniority order using their seniority when a vacancy occurs, or the crew base is reopened. CBA 22.H

How does a Priority of Return (POR) work?

Any flight attendant who wishes to exercise a priority of return, must file a preference form within 30 days of displacement. Flight Service will hold onto this preference until it is either awarded; or a flight attendant wishes to remove their POR and forfeit priority return.

If I transfer voluntarily to another base before my Priority of Return can be fulfilled, will that void my POR request?

No. Per “Subsequent displacements or transfers will not cause the flight attendant to forfeit the right to return.”

Displaced Flight Attendants with a Priority of Return preference on file must also put in a transfer request in DECS/FOS to be considered for a transfer. If you don’t have your transfer request in DECS/FOS and your seniority would have held the transfer, you would forfeit your Priority of Return.

For Flight Attendants displaced upon return from furlough in December 2020 or by the closure of the RDU and STL bases or downsizing of LAX and PHX in 2021, the deadline to file the POR preference form was April 1, 2021.

Transfer Effect on Reserve
Transfer Rescind - Decline
Back Filling
Priority of Return

Transfer Effect on Reserve

A Flight Attendant transferring to a new base will be subject to reserve the first full month at their new base if their seniority requires them to serve reserve, regardless of reserve rotation at their previous base.

Transfer Rescind - Decline

A Flight Attendant may remove their name from the transfer list at any time prior to the 26th at 1200 DFW Time.

Back Filling

Priority of Return

What is a Priority of Return?

How does a Priority of Return (POR) work?

If I transfer voluntarily to another base before my Priority of Return can be fulfilled, will that void my POR request?

No. Per “Subsequent displacements or transfers will not cause the flight attendant to forfeit the right to return.”

For Flight Attendants displaced upon return from furlough in December 2020 or by the closure of the RDU and STL bases or downsizing of LAX and PHX in 2021, the deadline to file the POR preference form was April 1, 2021.

Vacancy Transfers

Active Status

Flight Attendants in Active Flying Status:

Flight Attendant vacancies occurring at any base shall be posted no earlier than the twelfth (12th) and no later than the sixteenth (16th) of the calendar month three (3) months prior to the effective date at all Flight Attendant crew bases

The most senior Flight Attendant bidding, including standing transfer requests, whose name appears on the system seniority list, shall be awarded the vacancy.

To be eligible for a vacancy transfer, a Flight Attendant must be showing active status on either the date of the award or the effective date of the transfer. This verification will occur on the transfer award date: 27th of the month.

On the effective date of a vacancy transfer, a Flight Attendant will be required to possess the applicable equipment and service qualifications, and visa requirements for the new crew base.

Flight Attendant Positioning Responsibilities

A Flight Attendant involved in a vacancy transfer shall make every effort to bid their schedule to be positioned and available for new assignment/award at the new base and will be responsible for rearranging their schedule to avoid sequence/reserve obligations

A Reserve unable to avoid a conflict may either have an off day moved for transit to the new base; or have the day off unpaid and have guarantee reduced. The option will normally be granted but in staffing irregularities, scheduling may determine whether the Reserve may move a day or have the guarantee reduced.
A Lineholder unable to avoid a conflict will be removed from the first sequence without pay or credit.

Active Status
Flight Attendant Positioning Responsibilities

Active Status

Flight Attendants in Active Flying Status:

The most senior Flight Attendant bidding, including standing transfer requests, whose name appears on the system seniority list, shall be awarded the vacancy.

On the effective date of a vacancy transfer, a Flight Attendant will be required to possess the applicable equipment and service qualifications, and visa requirements for the new crew base.

Flight Attendant Positioning Responsibilities

A Reserve unable to avoid a conflict may either have an off day moved for transit to the new base; or have the day off unpaid and have guarantee reduced. The option will normally be granted but in staffing irregularities, scheduling may determine whether the Reserve may move a day or have the guarantee reduced.
A Lineholder unable to avoid a conflict will be removed from the first sequence without pay or credit.

Vacancy Transfer Lock in

A Flight Attendant who was awarded a vacancy transfer will serve a lock-in for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

NOTE: You are eligible for a MUTUAL transfer while serving a Vacancy Transfer lock-in.

Speakers and Language Lock-in

Language qualified but it wasn't required for you to get the transfer?
A Flight Attendant assigned to a base station which requires their language qualification but who was not awarded such assignment on the basis of their language qualification, may be required to remain at such base for a period of three (3) months from the effective date of the assignment or transfer.

Language qualified and your transfer depended on the language?
A Flight Attendant assigned to a base station which requires their language qualification but who was awarded such assignment on the basis of their language qualification, may be required to remain at such base for a period of six (6) months from the effective date of the assignment or transfer.

Language qualified within first year of being hired?
A Flight Attendant who possesses a foreign language qualification and who is assigned or transfers to a base station within one (1) year of date of hire which requires their qualification may be required to remain at such base station for a period of one (1) year from the effective date of assignment or transfer.

If there is a need for speakers at another base, new hire speakers may be allowed to transfer but must remain at the new base for 1 year.

On probation?
You are allowed 1 transfer during probation.

CBA Section 22.J

1. Vacancies for foreign language speakers will be filled in accordance with the provisions in Section 22. However, only a language qualified Flight Attendant will be considered eligible to bid for such a vacancy.
2. In order to maintain the minimum requirements of the operation, the Company may retain foreign language qualified Flight Attendants in a crew base where displacements may otherwise be occurring. Foreign language speaker vacancies that are not bid for a given crew base may be involuntarily assigned to the language qualified Flight Attendant with the least system seniority or by a new hire language qualified Flight Attendant, if no Flight Attendants remain on involuntary furlough.

Relocation Days (22.D.7)

CBA Section 22.D.7
A flight attendant who voluntarily transfers to another crew base will be provided five (5) consecutive calendar days free of all duty for the purpose of relocating. Such "relocation days" shall be provided subject to coverage requirements, but shall not be subject to payment for time lost or any expenses incurred.

All flight attendants awarded a vacancy transfer must notify Crew Planning of their relocation days preferences by using Comply365. Within this form, advise how many days you are requesting for relocation days, up to 5 days. The deadline to submit a request for relocations days is the 7th of the month by 2359.

Example

On March 27th you are awarded a vacancy transfer from DFW to PHX effective June 1st. You are eligible for relocation days during the May bid month. The deadline to submit a relocation days request is April 7th at 2359. These days will be included as a pre-planned absence in your May PBS award.

Awarded Transfer	Effective Date	Eligible for Relocation	Relocation Day Request Deadline
March 27th	June 1st	May Bid Month	April 7th at 2359

Relocation days must be consecutive days off; they cannot be split.
You may request up to five consecutive days off.
You may submit up to four requests.
Your Comply365 form should include your requests in order of preference.
Awarded relocation days are unpaid and if applicable will reduce the guarantee.
A Flight Attendant involved in a vacancy transfer shall make every effort to bid their schedule to be positioned and available for new assignment/award at the new base and will be responsible for rearranging their schedule to avoid sequence/reserve obligations.
A Reserve unable to avoid a conflict may either have an off day moved for transit to the new base; or have the day off unpaid and have guarantee reduced.
- The option will normally be granted but in staffing irregularities, scheduling may determine whether the Reserve may move a day or have the guarantee reduced.
A Lineholder unable to avoid a conflict will be removed from the first sequence without pay or credit.
Relocation days are subject to holiday black-out dates, as well as the day immediately before and the day immediately after designated holidays (i.e. New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day).

Mutual Transfers

To be eligible for a mutual transfer, you must already be qualified on the required equipment and service qualifications for your desired base, at the time the award is processed. A mutual transfer may be accomplished by matching Flight Attendants from different bases in seniority order from 3* preferences in DECS. Mutual transfer Flight Attendants may be required to hold the same language qualification(s) and will be matched as required by each base.

* Purser qualifications will not be a requirement.

Mutual Transfer Highlights

Flight Attendants are eligible to mutual transfer each month regardless of an existing lock-in. The Flight Attendant transferring to the base where the lock-in exists will be required to fulfill the remaining portion of the lock-in.
The Mutual Transfer shall be at the Flight Attendant's expense.
A Flight Attendant involved in a mutual transfer shall make every effort to bid their schedule to be positioned and available for new assignment/award at the new base and will be responsible for rearranging their schedule to avoid sequence/reserve obligations
- A Reserve unable to avoid a conflict may either have an off day moved for transit to the new base; or have the day off unpaid and have guarantee reduced. The option will normally be granted but in staffing irregularities, scheduling may determine whether the Reserve may move a day or have the guarantee reduced.
- A Lineholder unable to avoid a conflict will be removed from the first sequence without pay or credit.
Applicable base visa requirements must be obtained prior to reporting to the new base.

View CBA section 22.K

Mutual Transfer Processing Improvements (CBA 22.K.1)

The one-to-one match highlighted in the video has been improved with the ratification of the CBA. Rather than just 1 to 1 transfers between bases, Flight Attendants are now processed in chains which allow matches between bases, including multiple Flight Attendants, without changing the base headcount. This process allows more mutual transfers to be awarded while honoring seniority and without creating a vacancy in a base. (CBA 22.K.1)

Speakers and Mutual Transfers

To be awarded a Mutual Transfer, both flight attendants may be required to have like-to-like qualifications (depending on base requirement).
If awarded a Mutual Transfer, any language lock-in will be assumed by the Flight Attendant transferring into the base requiring the language qualification.
If there is a surplus of the Flight Attendant's language, a Speaker may not be held to the base language qualification requirements for a Mutual Transfer.

Transfers

Overview of Transfers

Timeline for Processing Transfers

Timeline for Capture of Transfer Preferences from FOS

Putting in Your Transfer Request

NOTE: For more information on Personal Mode and entering your transfer preferences in DECS you can view the Guide to Entering Transfer Preferences on Jetnet.

Transfer Types

Two Transfer Types:

Equipment Qualifications

Additional Information

Vacancy Transfers

Flight Attendants in Active Flying Status:

Vacancy Transfer Lock in

NOTE: You are eligible for a MUTUAL transfer while serving a Vacancy Transfer lock-in.

Speakers and Language Lock-in

Relocation Days (22.D.7)

Example

Mutual Transfers

Mutual Transfer Highlights

Mutual Transfer Processing Improvements (CBA 22.K.1)

Speakers and Mutual Transfers

Transfer Hotlines

7.21.21 – Vacancy Transfers and Priority of Return

8.17.20 – VEOP, EVLOA, STLOA, And October Vacancy & Mutual Transfer Bidding Close Tonight

9.12.18 – (LAA/LUS) – The Weekly Scoop

7.21.21 – Vacancy Transfers and Priority of Return

8.17.20 – VEOP, EVLOA, STLOA, And October Vacancy & Mutual Transfer Bidding Close Tonight

9.12.18 – (LAA/LUS) – The Weekly Scoop

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